Overview of Grand Jury Reports of Jail Facilities and Overcrowding

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1 Grand Jury Reports Introduction The Civil Grand Jury (Grand Jury) is a division of the Superior Court, keeping watch over numerous government agencies, cities and districts throughout Santa Barbara County. The Grand Jury may investigate, evaluate, and make recommendations to any city, county, or special district agency that receives County funds. California law requires the Grand Jury to inspect County and city jails and detention facilities, and to review County financial accounts and records. Overview of Grand Jury Reports of Jail Facilities and Overcrowding Over the last ten years, many Grand Juries have addressed the critical issue posed by overcrowding and urged the construction of a North County jail facility. Following is a brief review of the findings and recommendations found in many of those reports Grand Jury - Recommended that the Board of Supervisors immediately seek financing for the construction and operation of a North County jail by whatever means available Grand Jury Found that the Santa Barbara Main Jail is consistently overcrowded and recommended that the County implement a plan to build a North County Jail as recommended by previous Grand Juries Grand Jury Found that overcrowding of the main jail in Santa Barbara and lack of a major jail in the north county are the basic reasons for many of the problems associated with the Sheriff s custodial operations. The report further noted that each additional detainee requires more time of an already overburdened staff and went on to note that this can cause serious problems for the jail staff Grand Jury Although this Grand Jury commended Sheriff Department staff for human treatment of the inmates while dealing with lack of space, personnel and funding, and commended staff for their careful administration of the early release program that is carried out under most difficult circumstances, its recommendation for the construction of a new jail was equally strong. The Grand Jury stated, it believed the best remedy to overcrowding is to construct an urgently needed jail in the North County. It also recommended that the County continue in their efforts to inform citizens of this very critical need. Grand Jury Reports Page 1 of 2

2 Grand Jury Reports Grand Jury This Grand Jury identified the need for a North County Jail as a critical need. Its report stated: The Santa Barbara Grand Jury strongly supports the recommendation of the previous Grand Jury with regard to the building of a North County Jail. The population of Santa Barbara County has exploded in the last twenty years with a corresponding increase in crime. The majority of inmates at the Main Jail are now from the North County. Severe overcrowding in the Main Jail has mandated early release of some inmates. This early release potentially places the citizens of this County at risk. The necessity for building a North County Jail can no longer be ignored. The citation above is also illustrated elsewhere in this report as an ongoing and increasing concern. The recommendation of this Grand Jury, once again, was to alleviate overcrowding in the Main Jail, resulting in the early release of inmates, a jail needs to be constructed in North County Grand Jury (Attachment 1) This most recent report was entitled, No Vacancy The Need for a North County Jail. This jury recognized the challenges that overcrowding has created and commended staff on the professional manner in which they handle a changing a potentially volatile population. It also found, very significantly, that the Main Jail was overcrowded, that the majority of the population of the jail was from the northern part of the county, and that an estimated 1,575 beds would be needed by the year Their recommendations reiterated that the County should continue in earnest to build a new jail in the North County, and should present several workable solutions to fund and operate it. Throughout the history of Grand Jury findings regarding jail issues, the County has reasonably and responsibly attempted to address the issue of overcrowding in a variety of ways. Most recently, the Board directed staff to proceed with planning for a new jail at the Laguna County Sanitation District site. Since that time, a schematic design has been completed, an initial assessment of environmental objectives has been conducted, acquisition options have been identified, and a thorough cost and funding analysis has been conducted. For both the construction and operation of a new jail. Summary The preceding summary of numerous Grand Jury Reports and their findings and recommendations further illustrate the urgent need to proceed with the construction and operation of a new jail facility in North County. The County has made nearly every conceivable attempt to alleviate jail overcrowding through creative means. However, these means alone are no longer able to address the growing public safety incarceration needs of the County. Grand Jury Reports Page 2 of 2

3 Attachment 1- Grand Jury Report NO VACANCY THE NEED FOR A NORTH COUNTY JAIL The Santa Barbara County Civil Grand Jury again recognizes the critical need for a jail facility in the northern part of Santa Barbara County. The Santa Barbara County Main Jail is located off Calle Real between Turnpike and El Suen o Roads in Santa Barbara. The Jail is operated by the County Sheriff. The State Board of Corrections (BOC) rated capacity for this facility is 618 beds 543 beds for men and 75 for women. At the time of the Grand Jury s annual inspection, the Jail was filled to capacity with an additional 68 inmates sleeping on mattresses on the floor in cell areas. The BOC, in its most recent annual assessment of the Jail, cited the Santa Barbara County Sheriff for this overcrowding violation of the Jail s rated capacity. Overcrowding can add significantly to the antisocial behavior of inmates and inhibit the ability of Corrections staff to effectively supervise a volatile and dangerous population. The Average Daily Population (ADP) of the Main Jail in 2004 was % over the rated capacity as determined by BOC. In 2003, the ADP was 10.5% over the rated capacity. The Sheriff estimates that by the year 2020, 1,575 beds will be needed. This is a 154% increase over present capacity in only 15 years. In the early 1980s, a lawsuit was brought against Santa Barbara County because of jail overcrowding. The resulting court order judged the overcrowding condition illegal. In interviews and briefings with the Santa Barbara County Grand Jury, the Board of Supervisors, and the media, the County Sheriff has stated that the Main Jail overcrowding is continuously out of compliance with the court order. The court order also required that action be taken to eliminate the situation. A committee of representatives from the Courts, Public Defender, County Counsel, District Attorney, Mental Health, Probation, Sheriff s Department and local police agencies was asked to find solutions to alleviate this overcrowding. As a result, the committee created the criteria for an early release program that have been used for the past two decades to ease the problem and attempt to comply with the court order. This early release program is only for persons incarcerated for misdemeanors. It has been a useful tool to temporarily alleviate overcrowded conditions. The program is no longer working because overcrowding has become a sustained rather than a temporary condition. With an increase in felony arrests, the percentage of misdemeanants has dropped to about 29% of the total jail population. Since only misdemeanants are eligible for early release, the program has become less effective. Attachment 1- Grand Jury Report Page 1 of 3

4 Attachment 1- Grand Jury In 2004, a total of 1,898 inmates (1,598 male, 300 female) were granted early release due to jail overcrowding. It should be noted that there are several negative impacts of the early release program. For example, public safety is threatened and justice is compromised when criminals do not serve the full term for their illegal acts. Also, it is not a fair and equitable practice of law enforcement. The Grand Jury stated that the early release program is a poor solution to overcrowding because it simply puts criminal offenders back on the streets. Northern Santa Barbara County is growing rapidly in population with a concurrent increase in criminal activity. In 2004, an average of 55% of the inmates incarcerated in the Santa Barbara Main Jail were from the North County. In that area, there is one temporary holding facility with 35 beds which is located in Santa Maria. After 96 hours, arrestees must either be transported to the Main Jail or be released. Secure vehicles are required on a daily basis to transport inmates from the Main Jail facility in the South County for arraignment, court hearings and trials in the North County. The resulting staff, fuel, and vehicle maintenance and replacement costs significantly impact the Sheriff s Department annual budget. In the year 2004, transportation costs exceeded $350,000. The Sheriff is aware of the acute need for a North County jail and his responsibility to be in compliance with the court order and the mandates of the State Board of Corrections. To this end, the Department has been studying possible locations for such a facility and has gone so far as to set aside money from its budget to fund such studies. The Board of Supervisors has long acknowledged the need, but has not specifically allocated any funds. In March 2000, Measure U2000, a tax initiative proposing a sales tax increase to build a new jail facility in North County, was placed on the ballot. It failed to pass. Dramatic changes in population statistics and demographics suggest that the issue should now be revisited. Whether there are one or two counties in the future, it is time for the Board of Supervisors to accept the fact that the existing jail facility is no longer adequate. This issue has been before the Board of Supervisors for years and previous Grand Juries have also brought attention to the situation. Attachment 1- Grand Jury Report Page 2 of 3

5 Attachment 1- Grand Jury Report Investigation The Grand Jury inspected the Main Jail facility as part of its annual required visit. We interviewed correctional personnel and scrutinized population statistics. We reviewed Grand Jury Final Reports dating back to 1994 as well as the Board of Corrections findings regarding Santa Barbara County jail population issues. Finally, we attended the Board of Supervisors general meeting on April 12, 2005, during which the Santa Barbara County Sheriff gave a detailed presentation on the critical need for a North County jail. Following that presentation, the BOS, by a unanimous vote, directed the Sheriff and the Chief Executive Officer to proceed with plans for a North County jail at the Laguna Sanitation District site near Santa Maria. They were also directed to find new alternatives for relieving short-term overcrowding and present recommendations to the Board. Findings: 1. The Main Jail, located in the South County, is overcrowded. 2. In 2004, 55% percent of the jail population was from the northern part of the county. 3. An estimated 1,575 beds will be needed to house inmates in this county by the year The County Board of Supervisors has now directed the Chief Executive Officer to allocate funds for the land acquisition and studies needed to build a North County jail. Recommendations: 1. The Board of Supervisors should continue in earnest to build the North County jail. 2. The Board of Supervisors should present to the public several workable solutions to fund and operate a North County jail. Affected Agencies Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Findings 1, 2, 3, 4 Recommendations 1, 2 Santa Barbara County Sheriff Department Findings 1, 2, 3 Attachment 1- Grand Jury Report Page 3 of 3